All of my friends are mom friends because I only go where my kids can be who they are. Some of the most important traits are that they can laugh with me, not at me, someone for me to cry with when a mutual friend has a child pass away from a terminal illness or to listen to my worries when my husband found out he might be laid off. Thankfully they were also there to celebrate when the good news came that he would not be losing his job. I am very blessed to have many mom friends who are there for me night or day no matter what.

 

-Maureen Carlson

Qualities in a mom friend: Someone who is compassionate about my children the same way I am. Someone who doesn't care if my kids come over and redecorate the house. Someone I can call at midnight if I need to talk. Someone that I trust and will agree to watch my kids at the drop of a hat. Someone that I can tell anything to. Someone that I feel so comfortable being around, they feel like family.

-Kimberly Smith

Qualities I look for in a mom friend are no different than any other friend, except mom friends understand that plans can change at a moment's notice and not be upset because there are tantrums, or we can't miss a nap, or I have to have a time-out for me! Mom friends are loving and empathetic because many of them no longer get six straight hours of sleep either! Many of my mom friends have some of the most creative and best ideas I can share with my own family. We enrich each other's lives with compassion, laughter and a yearning to give our children some of what we had experienced ourselves with some balance of how much we give of ourselves each day and night. I'm forever grateful to my mom friends who have helped me realize the blessings of true friendship that I am able and willing to share with my own children."

Susie Jablonski

 

I look for a friend who understands the struggles I go through. I want someone I can talk to, someone who has kids and is nurturing, resourceful and has the kids' interest at hand. Patience is good too, LOL.

Shamieka Kirksey

The qualities I look for in my mom friends are: someone who is not judgmental, who can admit she's having as hard a time as I am, and who can laugh at the trials and tribulations of life with toddlers. Of course, a lot of my mom friends were friends before any of us were moms but most of the people I meet now and who I become friends with at play groups, etc., are friendly, open, can talk about stuff other than the kids, listen when you need to vent and come up with good ideas and suggestions as well as advice.

Mary Maher

It is nice to have a mom friend who is understanding of the "season of life" that you are in, someone who will be there for you no matter what and who loves your kids too, someone you can talk to about anything and everything and not feel guilty about it.

Joene Murphy

All of my friends are mom friends because I only go where my kids can be who they are. Some of the most important traits are that they can laugh with me, not at me, someone for me to cry with when a mutual friend has a child pass away from a terminal illness or to listen to my worries when my husband found out he might be laid off. Thankfully they were also there to celebrate when the good news came that he would not be losing his job. I am very blessed to have many mom friends who are there for me night or day no matter what.

Maureen Carlson

Qualities in a mom friend: Someone who is compassionate about my children the same way I am. Someone who doesn't care if my kids come over and redecorate the house. Someone I can call at midnight if I need to talk. Someone that I trust and will agree to watch my kids at the drop of a hat. Someone that I can tell anything to. Someone that I feel so comfortable being around, they feel like family.

Kimberly Smith

This article appeared in the 2009 September edition of Chicago Parent.